HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Romans 12:9

There is hatred in the Christian life — hatred of sin in every shape and form, abhorrence of the very appearance and approach of evil. “Which thing I also hate!” says Jesus Himself. (Revelation 2:6)

Religion today is apt to be an easy-going, lukewarm, worldly thing. But the true Christian will win and wear the commendation which one gave his friend, “He is a very good hater!” Provided only my indignation burns against sinful things, I cannot have too much of it, and it cannot be too intense and unyielding.

But if hatred is the negative pole, love is the positive pole — love which cleaves to that which is good. And in this case, good is no abstract quality, no dead theory. Good is my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let me always be learning of Him: Jesus waiting in Nazareth and working in Capernaum, and praying on the cold mountains and in the midnight air, and obeying and suffering in the Garden and on the Cross — it is . . .
He in whose footsteps I am to follow,
He whose image I am to bear,
He into whose glory I am to be changed.

Lord, strengthen me with might by Your Spirit, for both the hating and for the loving. For apart from You I can do nothing. A strange mist hangs over my eyes so that I see neither sin nor Christ in their right proportion and their true character. A strange speechlessness paralyzes my speech so that I lift up my voice neither in condemnation of my sin — nor in eulogy of my glorious King!